What is crucial when assessing the social communication skills of a school-age child?

Observing the child interacting with peers is crucial when assessing the social communication skills of a school-age child because social communication encompasses the ability to engage in conversations, use nonverbal cues, and interpret social situations effectively. This type of assessment allows the evaluator to witness firsthand how the child navigates social contexts, uses language in real-time with others, and responds to social cues. By observing interactions with peers, the evaluator can gain insights into the child's ability to initiate conversations, take turns, maintain topic relevance, and exhibit appropriate social behaviors—all key components of social communication.

Collecting a language sample, while important for understanding a child's overall language use, may not provide as immediate or specific information about social interactions. Assessing expressive vocabulary focuses more narrowly on a child's word usage rather than how they utilize language in social contexts. Measuring the discrepancy between IQ and communication skills might highlight potential areas of concern but does not address the functional application of communication in social settings where skills are most clearly demonstrated.